AARP PA Applauds Wolf Administration’s Commitment to Boost Financial Resources for Programs Serving Older Adults

AARP Pennsylvania today praised the Wolf Administration’s plan to increase funding in the upcoming 2020-21 state budget for programs serving the state’s most vulnerable older adults.

The proposed budget increases were announced yesterday as part of Governor Wolf’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and are based on recommendations submitted by the Governor’s Council on Reform. AARP Pennsylvania State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh and AARP PA Consumer Issues Task Force Chair Mary Bach currently serve on the Governor’s 25 member Council on Reform.

The proposed budget increases for programs serving older adults include:

• An additional $8.1 million for the OPTIONS program to help 1,700 older adults currently on waiting lists for home and community-based services.

• An additional $1 million to expand programs that provide legal services to low-income older adults and other vulnerable populations.

• $1.2 million to establish a new training program designed to help address a critical shortage of direct care workers.

“AARP pushed for many of these funding increases to provide much-needed assistance to Pennsylvania’s older adults who need help remaining at home and in the community—where they want to be,” said Johnston-Walsh.

He added that AARP members across Pennsylvania will continue advocating for the additional financial resources with members of the General Assembly throughout the upcoming 2020-21 state budget process.

“We call on state lawmakers to incorporate these funding proposals into the final budget and help improve the lives of thousands of older Pennsylvanians,” said Johnston-Walsh.